Pumpkin Spiced Granola

[bubblebubba]

So in case you haven't noticed, it's autumn.

If you live in anywhere other than the tropics or crazy California, where seasonal climate changes exist only in dry jokes (ha ha--sorry, had to do it), this means that pretty soon, you're going to be huddling under your blankets during the cold mornings and won't want to go outside anywhere. Period. Not to the mall, not to work, and most definitely not to the store to restock your shelves with that granola you're missing.

That's where this delicious autumn-themed granola kicks in.



If you're a fan of turning on your oven and getting all toasty at the same time as your granola does, then try this recipe! For more photos and thoughts, also head on over here.


Pumpkin Spiced GranolaInspired by recipe from Averie CooksIngredients:

• 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/2 cup cookie butter (1 batch homemade, or store-bought)
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/4 cup canola or vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 cups quick-cooking oats
• 1 to 1 1/2 cups almonds (or any nut variety you prefer), chopped
• 1/2 to 1 cup raisins, cranberries, or dried fruit mix; adjust to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium-sized bowl, combine pumpkin, cookie butter, honey, oil, vanilla, and cinnamon. Stir until smooth.
2. Add oats and chopped nuts to pumpkin mixture. Stir in until completely coated, then transfer to a foil-lined and greased cookie sheet. Spread out granola in a thin layer and bake for 30 to 40 minutes, stirring once or twice, until granola reaches desired crunchiness. (Your granola may take even longer to bake, depending on your oven circulation-watch it carefully! The moistness of the pumpkin keeps it from baking too quickly, but you don’t want your granola to burn, either. Averie notes that the granola is inherently dark, because of the pumpkin, so you’ll want to do a crispness test occasionally by poking a cluster of granola to see if it’s firmed up.)
3. Remove granola from oven and stir in raisins or cranberries. Allow to cool-your granola should obtain a boosted crunch!-and serve with yogurt, milk, or a plain old comfort food in its own right. Enjoy!